Richardson waltzes to 20th men’s title at county table tennis championships in March

A STUNNING performance from Keith Richardson saw him become the men’s champion for the 20th time at Cambridgeshire Table Tennis Association’s Closed Championships held in March on Saturday.

Richardson, who is president of the association, dominated the competition at Neale-Wade, overcoming his long-term county colleague Mick Harper in the final.

Harper and Richardson did lose out to Wayne Mason and Robert Swift in the men’s doubles final.

Swift, a former men’s singles winner playing in the event for the first time in around 25 years, was also runner up to Alex Facey in the veterans event.

Caroline Wright became the ladies champion by beating Tracey Sambrook in straight games. She also joined forces with Wayne Mason to beat Wisbech’s Chad Bassett and Helen Arnold in the mixed doubles.

March player Steve Mason proved too strong for Cambridge University student Ping Teeradej Kittipasorn in the handicap singles.

Cambridge League Ladies Doubles Champions Tracey Sambrook and Helen Arnold also took the county event, proving too strong for Nga Nguyen and Nutthaporn Sethasathien.

Daniel Fielding from the Yaxley club got the better of the fast improving Adam Jepson in the Under 21 Constable Cup, coming back from 2-1 down. He and Ollie Loia won the junior doubles event overcoming Max Schwiening and Harris Ryder in straight games.

Jepson won a five set thriller, coming back from 2 sets down in a repeat of last season’s Cadet Boys Singles Final against Harris Ryder.

Shaun Murray secured the Rosebowl for the Restricted Singles with a five set win over Ping Teeradej Kittipasorn.

In the Under 21 Keki Mistry Trophy Amy Catlin won a thrilling 12-10 in the fifth set against Nga Nguyen. Catlin also overcame March’s Abbie Stacey in the junior girls final.

Ping Teeradej Kittipasorn combined with Julian Tee to win the drawn doubles final against Mark Lillyman and Thorsten Paarman.

Nearly 290 games were played on the day and the Cambridgeshire Table Tennis Association thanked the members of March Table Tennis League that helped with the organisation, Carol Livermore and Caroline Wright for the catering, Florida Trophies and all the players and umpires that took part in the event.

Results

Men’s Singles

Keith Richardson bt Mick Harper 11-3, 11-7, 11-5

Ladies Singles

Caroline Wright bt Tracey Sambrook 11-5, 17-15, 11-7

Men’s Doubles

Wayne Mason & Robert Swift bt Keith Richardson & Mick Harper 9-11, 11-5, 11-6, 6-11, 11-8

Ladies Doubles

Helen Arnold & Tracey Sambrook bt Nga B Q Nguyen & Nutthaporn Sethasathien 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-4

Mixed Doubles

Wayne Mason & Caroline Wright bt Chad Bassett & Helen Arnold 11-6, 11-8, 11-9

Veteran’s Singles

Alex Facey bt Robert Swift 11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 10-12, 11-6

Handicap Singles (one game to 41)

Steve Mason (+34) bt Ping Teeradej Kittipassorn (+20) 41-23

Restricted Singles

Shaun Murray bt Ping Teeradej Kittipassorn 11-4, 9-11, 13-15, 11-7, 11-6

Constable Cup (Under 21 Boys)

Daniel Fielding bt Adam Jepson 11-9, 4-11, 13-15, 11-6, 11-6

Keki Mistry (Under 21 Girls)

Amy Catlin bt Nga B Q Nguyen 4-11, 10-12, 11-5, 11-8, 12-10

Junior Boys Singles

Harry Davies bt Harris Ryder 9-11, 11-5, 14-12, 9-11, 11-8

Junior Girls Singles

Amy Catlin bt Abbie Stacey 5-11, 12-10, 11-2, 11-3

Junior Doubles

Daniel Fielding & Ollie Loia bt Harris Ryder & Max Schwiening 11-5, 11-9, 11-7

Cadet Boys Singles

Adam Jepson bt Harris Ryder 4-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-5

Cadet Girls Singles

Abbie Stacey (unopposed)

Drawn Doubles

Julian Tee & Ping Teeradej Kittipassorn bt Thorsten Paarman & Mark Lillyman 11-3, 11-13, 11-6, 11-9.